52 ANNUAL REPORT 



mulch. His soil, a sandy loain. He has had good success for some 

 years past by covering his ground heavily with straw before planting; 

 in planting separates the straw on the row sufficient to plant, and then 

 replaces it around the plant. Does no cultivating on ground planted 

 in this way, but pulling what few weeds come through the straw. This 

 is the cheapest way he can subdue weeds, ars but few of the seeds of 

 weeds will germinate and come up through the strasv. The runners 

 needed for new plants areput under the straw by hand, and will grow 

 up through it. When these plants are mature in the fall, he has the 

 roots under the straw and the leaves on top, and his berries never 

 need washing to fit them for the table. Would be afraid to use this 

 plan on heavy soil, for fear of the plants damping off. Mr. Underwood, 

 in favoring this plan, said the straw best retained the moisture, prevent- 

 ng the damages of drouth, and protecting against winter-killing. 



Mr. Gould found two causes for the winter-killing of strawberries: 

 First, rupturing the roots, by heaving of the soil, caused by alternate 

 freezing and thawing. Second, the drying out of the soil about the 

 roots. Thinks mulching with straw will protect in most cases. He 

 had never experienced a failure on northern exposure, but he had often 

 failed to secure a good crop on a southern slope. 



Mr. Gibbs explained that his planting in straw had been with the 

 Wilson onl}'. 



Mr. Lyon said he grew the Countess De Haricout, and that he had 

 succeeded better with it, than with the Wilson. He never had lost 

 any Countess until last year. He usually leaves a portion of his plants 

 without protection during the winter for experiment, and often gets 

 good crops from the exposed part of his plantation. He found first 

 and second crops the best. Usually gets 2000 quarts per acre as an 

 average, and has grown 3500 quarts per acre. 



Mr. Dartt said he thought strawberries degenerated, that he had 

 heard lately of failures of the Wilson, and wanted to kuow if it was 

 not running out ? 



Mr. Gibbs did not believe the Wilson was degenerating. Had grown 



*them twenty-five years in succession without change of stock plants, 



and the last crop was as good as the first, in fact the best he ever grew. 



Mr. Gould said the Wilson was good with him all the time. He 



averaged 3000 quarts per acre. 



In answer to Mr. Emery's question if well rotted straw made a good 

 mulch, Mr. Harris replied that it was the best. He had grown straw- 

 berries on all slopes; considered eastern and northern the best, and 

 that a stony clay loam Avas the best; thought much of a good porous 



